"Dwell on the past and you’ll lose an eye…Forget the past and you’ll lose both eyes.” Russian Proverb
Courtesy of the Hoover Archives.
Legacy
The legacy that Stalin left behind is a confusing one. Although he was directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions of people, Stalin was still adored by the large majority of the Soviet population. This admiration continues today. Many point to Stalin’s victory during World War II or his industrialization of the country as proof that he saved the country from certain ruin. There have never been trials like there were for the Nazis after World War II, nor has there been a truth and reconciliation similar to that in South Africa. The result is that one of the world’s most ruthless dictators still has followers and supporters. Unfortunately, that support only seems to be growing.
